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Francis Rossi Plus special guests
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Thu 13 May 7:30pm Town Hall

The Status Quo frontman is regarded as a classic rock performer and has won several awards including the BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution To Music. This concert will allow him to reveal another side of himself to the rock fraternity. Rossi commented, _“I never stop writing songs and melodies but there have been many tracks over the years that just weren’t right for Quo. These songs have been gathering dust in my mind for too long and now seems the right time to showcase them. It’s a big step for me but I hope to see lots of the same faces out there on the road!”_ The _One Step At A Time_ tour represents a great chance to witness one of rock’s great performers, famous for his dry wit and lyrical dash, up close and personal. Francis Rossi will be accompanied by an 8 piece band.
N.O.M.A.D. English Originals Weekend & Rush Hour Blues
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Fri 14 May 5:30pm Symphony Hall Foyer Bars

Birmingham-based N.O.M.A.D. kick off English Originals Weekend with their uniquely enjoyable brand of folk-fusion. ‘The most enjoyable thing to happen to Donington Le Heath since Richard III slept there.’
Grace and Danger: The Songs of John Martyn English Originals Weekend 2010
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Fri 14 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

It’s just over a year since the death of John Martyn, a musician of genius who walked a tightrope between the grace of his art and the danger of his personal demons. This special show is curated by bassist Danny Thompson, Martyn’s long time friend and collaborator.A range of special guests will pay tribute to the most soulful and innovative singer songwriter of his generation. Check back here for the latest artist updates.
Featuring special guests: *Badly Drawn Boy, Scott Matthews, Beverley Martyn, Eddi Reader, Beth Orton* and more tbc.
Curated by Danny Thompson
Folk4Free English Originals Weekend 2010
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Sat 15 May 2:00pm Symphony Hall Foyer Bars

An afternoon of free folk music, curated by Moseley Folk Festival. *Dave Boddison* has been writing music for ten years and performing for seven. His solo acoustic sound hovers in the realms of ambient folk. 23-year-old *Abie Budgen* combines psychedelic, roots and blues sounds with finger-picking. As a child, *Deborah Hodgson* earned her first guitar by washing cars. Although not the most glamorous start to a career, she has now performed in festival fields, castles, a cathedral crypt and a major arena tour supporting 10CC. _‘Fantastic voice’_ Nick Britten, Daily Telegraph *Goodnight Lenin* caught the attention of audiences in Birmingham after releasing a YouTube video of a simple acoustic performance in which they sat perched on the counter-tops of their kitchen. The group attribute their sound to Bob Dylan and Elvis Perkins, mixing folk with a heavy American influence. 2010 is set to be a great year for the band as they supported First Aid Kit on the Birmingham leg of the duo’s UK tour and will be releasing their first limited edition single in the summer. Yet despite this, they can still be found performing amongst the pots and pans in kitchens. Growing up listening to Abba and Queen, *Megan Henwood* first performed at the tender age of nine. Turning eighteen she played her way round the world, singing to crowds in Venice, Thailand, India and Malaysia. After falling in love with Nepal, she has returned to Kathmandu twice to record with leading Nepalese musicians Nirmal Kulu, Binod Katal and Shyram Saram Nepali. In 2009 Megan won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Musician of the Year Award.
2pm *Dave Boddison* 3pm *Abie Budgen* 4pm *Deborah Hodgson* 5pm *Goodnight Lenin* 6pm *Megan Henwood*
Faure Requiem: James MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross City of Birmingham Choir
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Sat 15 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

The exquisite _Requiem_ and James MacMillan's mesmerising and deeply moving music combine in a concert of emotional intensity. _"... sensitively proportioned. ...a total awareness of musical structure"_
*City of Birmingham Choir* *Orchestra of the Swan* *Adrian Lucas* _conductor_ *Jack Furber* _treble_ *William Clements* _baritone_
*Fauré* Requiem *Finzi* Romance *James MacMillan* _Seven Last Words from the Cross_
The Graham Coxon Power Acoustic Ensemble English Originals Weekend 2010
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Sat 15 May 7:30pm Town Hall

After last year’s triumphant Blur reunion tour, a range of special guests join outstanding singer-songwriter-guitarist Graham Coxon. The concert is based on his acclaimed solo album _The Spinning Top_, a narrative of a man’s journey from birth to death. The show features special video and projections made by director Chris Hopewell. ‘The Spinning Top is a revelation. A gorgeous album... that cements Coxon as a true icon in a day and age populated by unmagnificence’ BBC Music Magazine
Featuring guests Martin Carthy and Natasha Marsh, and friends
CBSO Family Concert: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra - Matinee
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Sun 16 May 3:00pm Symphony Hall

This is your chance to discover all you wanted to know about a symphony orchestra! What are all those instruments and the amazing sounds they make? Travel through time on this magical musical journey as the CBSO’s top conductor, Andris Nelsons, and musicians Catherine Arlidge and Peter Hill let you into lots of musical secrets, with _The Sorcerer’s Apprentice_, The Elephant (from _The Carnival of the Animals_), Britten’s _Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra_ and more. FREE CRAFT WORKSHOPS AND MUSIC in the foyers from 1.30pm. Why not come dressed up in a music inspired costume? Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Andris Nelsons* _conductor_ *Catherine Arlidge* _presenter_ *Peter Hill* _presenter_
Bellowhead + Jackie Oates English Originals Weekend 2010
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Sun 16 May 7:30pm Town Hall

'Best live band we have. No contest' fRoots ‘The biggest, rowdiest and quite possibly, best thing to have happened to English music for a long while’ Q Magazine Bellowhead are a multi-talented group of musicians capable of playing a plethora of styles from around the world - big band to soul; jazz-funk to classical strings, yet retaining a unique sensitivity to English traditional music. Opening the evening is the critically acclaimed young folk singer and fiddler Jackie Oates. ‘Make room for an impeccable starlet-to-be' Word
Lunchtime Organ Concert Thomas Trotter
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Mon 17 May 1:00pm Town Hall

*Bach* Komm, Gott, Schöpfer BWV 667 *Hollins* A Song of Sunshine *Messiaen* Alleluias sereins; Transports de joie (from _L’Ascension_) *Wammes* Miroir *Duruflé* Prelude, Adagio & Variations on _Veni, Creator_
Anoushka Shankar: Sudakshini
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Mon 17 May 7:30pm Town Hall

Anoushka Shankar, daughter of the legendary Ravi, believes in the timeless beauty of the ancient, classical Indian musical styles. _Sudakshini_ - loosely translated as "_A Beautiful Journey Southward_" - is her new acoustic project. With newly composed ragas interspersed with traditional South Indian Music, she explores the relationship between the North and South Indian traditions.
*Anoushka Shankar* _sitar_ *Tanmoy Bose* _tabla_ *Pirashanna Thevarajah* _mridangam, kanjira, ghatam_ *Ravichandra Kulur* _flute, kanjira_ *Plus other musicians*
CBSO One Thousand and One Nights
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Tue 18 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Soaring violin solos, drama on the high seas and a total mastery of the orchestra: it’s no surprise that Rimsky-Korsakov’s _Scheherazade_ has become one of the most played and best-loved of all Russian pieces. After his thrilling CBSO debut two seasons ago, dynamic Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša returns with this and another Russian masterpiece, Tchaikovsky’s charming _Rococo_ Variations. Tchaikovsky was inspired by his lifelong love of Mozart, and the concert begins with one of the greatest of Mozart’s symphonies, written for a visit to Hrůšas home city. Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*Jakub Hrůša* conductor *Johannes Moser* cello *City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra*
*Mozart* Symphony No38 (Prague) 25' *Tchaikovsky* Rococo Variations 18' *Rimsky-Korsakov* Scheherazade 47'
CBSO One Thousand and One Nights - Matinee
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Wed 19 May 2:15pm Symphony Hall

Soaring violin solos, drama on the high seas and a total mastery of the orchestra: it’s no surprise that Rimsky-Korsakov’s _Scheherazade_ has become one of the most played and best-loved of all Russian pieces. After his thrilling CBSO debut two seasons ago, dynamic Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša returns with this and another Russian masterpiece, Tchaikovsky’s charming _Rococo_ Variations. Tchaikovsky was inspired by his lifelong love of Mozart, and the concert begins with one of the greatest of Mozart’s symphonies, written for a visit to Hrůša’s home city. Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk This concert is followed by a Members’ Afternoon Tea with Jakub Hrůša, in conversation with Christopher Morley of The Birmingham Post. For full details contact Eve Smith on 0121 616 6533 or email esmith@cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Jakub Hrůša* conductor *Johannes Moser* cello
*Mozart* Symphony No38 (Prague) 25' *Tchaikovsky* Rococo Variations 18' *Rimsky-Korsakov* Scheherazade 47'
RAY DAVIES with Band Plus Support
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Thu 20 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Following the success of last year's visit to Symphony Hall, Ray Davies returns. One of the most successful and influential songwriters to emerge from the British Invasion of the 1960s, founder of the rock band The Kinks whose hits include _You Really Got Me_, _All Day and All of The Night_, _Tired of Waiting_, _Set Me Free_, _Lola_, _Sunny Afternoon_, _Dedicated Follower of Fashion_, and _Apeman_ among many others. In June 2009 Ray’s new album which includes many of The Kinks classic hits was released entitled _The Kinks Choral Collection_. His May 2010 tour sees him performing, with his band, Kinks' hits and classics and material from his recent two solo albums.
CBSO Friday Night Classics: You Call the Tunes
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Fri 21 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

This is your chance to nominate and vote for the music you want to hear! Tonight the CBSO plays the people’s favourites in a concert packed with Midlanders’ most-loved classical music. Look out for details on the CBSO website, and in CBSO podcasts and concert programmes during autumn 2009, to find out how to nominate your absolutely-must-hear pieces. The most popular nominations will then be voted on by CBSO fans ready for the performance in Symphony Hall on 21 May, culminating in the Midlands’ Favourite Classic for 2010. Following her success in the BBC’s conducting series _Maestro_, tonight’s presenter Sue Perkins will also step onto the podium once again to conduct the CBSO for one of tonight’s pieces. Sue Perkins appears professional contracts permitting. Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Michael Seal* conductor *Sue Perkins* presenter
Samantha Fox Touch Me Again Tour
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Fri 21 May 8:00pm Town Hall

Unfortunately this concert is no longer taking place due to reasons beyond our control
Sir James Galway 70th Birthday Recital
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Sat 22 May 3:00pm Symphony Hall

James Galway exudes a leprechaun-like energy and youthful sense of fun, with an unstoppable passion for communicating with audiences. His concert with his wife, Lady Jeanne Galway, ranges from the simple Irish lyricism of Hamilton Harty through to the virtuosic fireworks of the Carmen Fantasie. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: _“The man with the golden flute remains one of the best-known names in classical music. His solo career spans thirty-five years and more than thirty million album sales worldwide.”_ Sir James & Lady Jeanne Galway appear by arrangement with Galway Management
*Sir James Galway* _flute_ *Lady Jeanne Galway* _flute_ *Michael McHale* _piano_
*Hamilton Harty* _In Ireland_ *Debussy* _La fille aux cheveux de lin_ *Debussy* _En Bateau_ *P Taffanel* _Fantasie Sur Mignon_ *Bazzini* _La Ronde des Lutins_ *Briccialdi* _Carnival of Venice_ *Pietro Morlacchi* _Il Pastore Svizzero_ *K & F Doppler* _Rigoletto Fantasie for two flutes & piano_ *F Borne* _Carmen Fantasie_
Imagination & Modern Romance
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Sat 22 May 7:30pm Town Hall

Unfortunately this concert is no longer taking place due to reasons beyond our control
Gwilym Simcock Trio with Mike Walker, Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum Birmingham Jazz 2009/10
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Sat 22 May 8:00pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

More details to follow shortly
Notelets Hands on Workshop
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Sun 23 May 10:00am Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

Boogie Beat - Workshop exploring pulse, drumming and rhythms to move to!
Notelets Hands on Workshop
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Sun 23 May 12:00pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

Boogie Beat - Workshop exploring pulse, drumming and rhythms to move to!